Vulcanizing device



6.1. DROPE.

VULCANIZING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE I8 I92I fai entre stars ran tra,

CLARENCE (I. DROPE, 0F MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, ASSIGNOR TO DERBY TIRE C0., 0F MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, A CORPORATION OF MINNESOTA.

VULCANIZING' DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan., 3i, i922.,

Application filed' June 18, 1921. Serial No. A278,505.

To all wlw/m, t 'may concern:

Be it known that I, CLARENCE J. Dnorn, a citizen of the United States, residi1 y) at Minneapolis, in the county of Hennepii` and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and(j useful Improvements in `Vulcanizing Devices; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,'clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to a vulcanizing device, and particularly to such a device of the type which comprises a vulcanizing core adapted to be placed inside of a tire or other article to be vulcanized and to hold the same in proper position for vulcaniza tion as well as to transmit heat thereto.

' It is an object of this invention to provide swch a vulcanizing device comprising a core, which core is compressible and composed of a plurality of sections together with means for compressing said sections from each end of the device so that an even and uniform expansion is obtained.

It is a further object of the invention to construct such a core of curved shape and comprising a curved internal sleeve on which the compressing means are movably mounted.

rl`hese and other objects and advantages ot the invention will be apparent from the tollowing description made in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to the saine parts throughout the diiiierent views', and in whichllig. l is a longitudinal vertical section through device showing the same in position in a tire casing.

litigiI 2 is a radial section of the saine taken on the line 2--2 "l, lookinan in the direction arrows; and

Fig. 3 is also a se tion LliU l talren on the line 3-3 "ig l, lcon in direction oi the to d vings, the 'ce comprises a central slee iormir are ari thin was incinte v portions, and the sides of which lie substantially in radial planes, radiating from the center of the sleeve l. As clearly shown,

the members 2, together, form a curved core l about the member l, and these members are substantiallyv semi-cylindrical at their outer portions, and at their inner portions are formed with approximately straight sides 2a and with an inner straight portion 2", thus quite accurately simulating the natural shape of the tire. The shape of the member 2 is quite an important feature of applicants invention and such shape is necessary to hold the ordinary tire in the proper position for vulcanization. A rigid washer member 3, preferably of metal contacts with each .end'member 2 and is arranged to move freely cn'the sleeve member l. `Plugs 4 which are received 'somewhat loosely inside of the sleeve l are connected thereto with capacity :tor swinging movement by set screws passing into the same from opposite sides ot the sleeve l, and screws 5 project from the plugs 4g, being rigidly secured therein at one end. Cap members t formed as open ended cylinders surround the ends ot the sleeve l and have slight anges formed thereon abutting the washers 3. A beveled gear 7 has its hub portion journaled centrally in the closed end of the cap member 6, and said hub portion is formed as a nut engaging with the screw 5 and this gear meshes with a similar beveled gear 8v mounted on the end of a shaft 9 which is journaled in a projecting hub 6b termed on a projecting ange 6 which is integral with the closed end of cap nieinher 6. The shaft 9 projects substantially radial :from the sleeve l and has a small collar pinned thereto holding the same in position the huh 6b. The.v outer end of the shan? 9 is squared to receive a suitable wrench hy which. the same is turned, it vill he nnderstood that the screw and gear strucl ture described is the same on each ci the cap members 3. lin order to furnish heat the inside et the core, an eiectrieal. resistance heat member il is disposed l core and supported on the rod l2 secure one the pings i and electrical condt are connecten to the heating elemer which.

conductors r, connn nenal conne i, en ele titl ety

dii

In the figures of the drawings the core is shown as disposed in a tire casing. In the use of the device, the same will be placed in the tire or member to be vulcanized at the desired point and the tire can then be placed in the vulcanizing frame which will be applied to the outside thereof. The shaf 9 will then be turned and the cap members 6 will be drawn toward the center of sleeve l and through the washers or plates 3 will press onto the compressible members 2. Both shafts 9 being turned the compressible members or washers 2 will be evenly' and uniformly compressed toward the center and the core will thus be expanded in cross section and will fill the tire and hold the same firmly in fully distended position so that the vulcanizing operation on thesame can be eiciently and perfectly performed.- By the shape of the members 2, all parts of the casing are distended and the tire is thus distended and held in firm position at .all points.

The screws 5 and blocks 4 can swing somewhat about the screws holding the same to the sleeve 1 and will thus automatically assume positions so that the sleeve 6 will always press on the washers 3 and 2 in a line substantially normal to the radius of the sleeve. This results in an even pressure being applied to the compressible members. It has heretofore been proposed to com rees the members 2 only from one end. Vith such a structure it was found that the core was not expanded evenly throughout its length and that the washers nearest the compression device would be expanded more -than those remote therefrom. With the present structure of compressing the core equally from both ends, an even and unifo-rm expansion of the same is obtained.

The heat is supplied to the interior of the core during the vulcanization by the electrical heating member l1 and this heat v ill be radiated through the members l and 2 tothe casing. While this heat will not be very intense, enough heat canv thus be radiated to assist edectively in the vulcanizationa lt will, ofcourse, be understood that if desired, a thermostat for controlling the supply of heat can be used with the device.

lrom the above description it is seen that applicant has provided an improved structure of vulcanizing core and one whose operation is rapid and eicient. ln practice, different sized cores will, of course, be used different sized casings and the parts of the device will be varied accordingly. lf desired,q steam or other heating means may oe used instead of the electrical heating means shown it will also be understood that various changes be made in the form, details narrar ement of the device without deiiom the scope of applicants in.-

vention, which, generally stated, consists in the matter shown and described and set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A vulcanizing device having in combination a hollow cylindrical sleeve, a plurality of comparatively thin washers of compressifble material movably mounted thereon, a movable member mounted on said sleeve at each end thereof adapted to abut the end washers, and means for moving said members toward the center of the sleeve to compress said washers.

2. The structure set forth in claim l, said sleeve being curved longitudinally substantially on the are of a circle and said washers having their surfaces lying in planes radial to the center of said sleeve.

8. A vulcanizing device comprising a hollow curved cylindrical sleeve, a plurality of g5 laminated compressible members movably mounted on said sleeve, members swingingly mounted on said sleeve vat each end thereof, cap members mounted over the ends of said sleeve and arranged to abut against the end laminated members, and means mounted on said swingingly mounted menilbers for moving said cap members toward the center of saidV sleeve to compress the laminated member.

4. A vulcanizing device comprising a hollow cylindrical curved sleeve, a plurality of laminated members movably mounted thereon and forming a substantially solid core member, plugs pivotally mounted in the ends of said sleeve having screws extending therefrom, cap members surrounding the ends of said sleeve and arranged to abut against the end laminated memlbers, meansl carried by said cap member for engaging with said screws, and means also carried by said cap member for operating the last mentioned means to move the cap members toward the center of the sleeve to compress the laminated members.

5. A vulcanizing device comprising a hollow cylindrical sleeve and a plurality of comparatively thin Washer members movably mounted thereon to form a substantially solid core, said members being shaped at their outer portionssubstantially circular but having straight inner portions and substantially straight portions extending from the ends of said straight inner portions, and joining said circular portion, whereby 12o the memlbers substantially lit in a tire casing, and means for compressing said members to expand the core.

6. A vulcaniaing device comp-risir low cylindrical curved sleeve, l laminated members movable mou on and forming substantially a the surface of said members lying i substantially radial to the center of said sleeve, the said members being elevation with the outer portions substantially circular, with their inner side and bottom portions substantially straight, and means for moving said members toward the 5 center of said sleeve to compress the same.

7. A deviceA of the class described comprising a sleeve member, a plurality of comparatvely thin compressible washers mounted thereon, and means ,at each end of the sleeve abutting the end Washers, and mov- 10 able toward each other to compress said Washers.

n testimony whereof I aix my signature.

CLARENCE J. DROPE. 

